Background

In June 2006 Nouri Maliki, the newly elected Prime Minister of Iraq, stated his intention to improve overall security not just in Baghdad but Iraq-wide using Iraqi, rather than US, security forces.

It was quickly recognised by the US military that in order to achieve this ambition the delivery of thousands of new vehicles to the Iraqi security forces would need to be implemented as fast as possible.

The US Marine Corps Reconstruction Logistics Iraq approached ArmorGroup’s convoy management team to carry out a risk assessment and then produce a security plan to escort convoys carrying 1,700 police vehicles from UMM Qasr port in the south of Iraq to the Hatten Factory near Hillah 450kms north, through an extremely hostile environment.

ArmorGroup Actions

ArmorGroup’s convoy team worked in partnership with the client to produce an extensive risk assesment plan. ArmorGroup’s team then developed, implemented and managed a complex risk mitigation programme to ensure the security of the client and its assets. The programme included:

• Continuous assessment of convoy team requirements;
• Coordination and liaison with ROCC to ensure successful route selection;
• Control of operational composition and timings of convoys;
• Emergency response and contingency planning;
• Protective security for convoys’ movement from pick up to drop off locations;
• Protective security of vehicles at drop off locations during download.

Results

ArmorGroup carried out the project on time and without any loss of life or damage to the client’s vehicles, despite continual insurgent action. The client intends to conduct similar missions in the near future, to further speed up the delivery of vehicles to the Iraqi Security forces.

In recognition of the success of its support of the client’s mission ArmorGroup received a letter of appreciation from John J Holly Col (Ret) USMC Director Reconstruction Logistics Iraq highlighting [quote from letter]